Sime
silo unloader



Aug. 2, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 10, 1962 AT TORNEYAug. 2, 1966 s. H. SIME Re. 26,072

SILO UNLOADER Original Filed Jan. 10, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 r20 25 I6 II7 INVENTOR.

SYLVAN H. SIME A M 4 MW ATTORNEY Aug. 1966 s. H. SIME Re. 26,072

SILO UNLOADER Original Filed Jan- 10. 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 use le I52I4 I55 4} 9 mmvron. HG. 8 SYLVANH.SIME

BYWM4W7 ATTORNEY Aug. 2, 1966 s. H. SIME Re. 26,072

SILO UNLOADER Criginal Filed Jan. 10, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.SYLVAN H. SIME ATTORNEY United States Patent 26,072 sILo UNLOADER SylvanH. Sime, Kiester, Minn, assignor to Deere & Company, Moline, [1]., acorporation of Delaware Original No. 3,144,144, dated Aug. 11, 1964,Ser. No.

165,394, Jan. 10, 1962. Application for reissue Aug. 2,

1965, Set. No. 479,042

19 Claims. (Cl. 214-17) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to a material unloader for use in a silo. Stillmore particularly it relates to a type of silo or material unloaderwhich moves on the surface of the silage and effects discharge of theupper layer of the silage through an opening in the silo wall.

In the use of surface silo unloaders, there are normally two problems ofmagnitude which must be met in order for the unloader to be successfullyoperated, the first being to maintain a relatively smooth upper surfacein the silage, and the second being the ability of the surface silounloader to move the material into the center of the silo and fromthence upwardly and outwardly through the wall opening of the silo.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide anew and novel manner of moving material inwardly to the center of thesilo and then both upwardly and outwardly to the wall. It is also theobject of the invention to provide a rather new and novel method ofmaintaining the sweeping mechanism of the silo unloader in a relation tothe surface of the silage so that the silage will remain insubstantially a level plane throughout operation of the silo unloader.

More specifically, it is the object of the present invention to providea new and novel structure at the center of the silo which includes aninverted cup-like element with an impeller therein. Directly and closelyadjacent the lower edge of the inverted cup is provided a radial sweepauger which extends from the center of the silo toward the wall of thesilo and moves material inwardly to an area beneath the inverted cup orimpeller blades. The sweep auger includes a flight element disposedoutwardly of the inverted cup chamber and a flipper element fixed to theauger driveshaft and normally disposed inwardly of the chamber wall.Consequently the material is moved inwardly through operation of theauger flight until it reaches the radial flipper on the auger driveshaftand is flipped upwardly into the path of the impeller blade. Connectedto the side of the cup chamber is an auger adapted to receive thematerial from the impeller and to feed the material outwardly throughthe discharge opening in the silo wall.

In one form of the invention, it is proposed to provide the sweep augerstructure with two distinct sections, one being a relatively shortsection adjacent the wall and the other being a relatively long sectionextending from an end spaced from the wall inwardly to the center of thesilo. The outer auger section normally moves in advance of the innersection and cuts an annular trough in the surface of the silo. The innerauger section has a guide Wheel on its outer end riding in the annulartrough cut by the outer section and consequently the depth of cut of theinner section is determined by the depth of the annular trough createdby the outer auger section. In this form of the invention it is furtherproposed to provide a unique manner of controlling the depth of cut ofthe outer auger section so that the silage in the silo will have anupper surface which is generally both horizontal and level.

In a modified form of the invention there is specifically provided asingle sweep auger extending substantially the radius of the silo and aunique manner of maintaining the surface of the silage level as Well asmaintaining the surface substantially horizontal.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will becom apparent tothose skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood from the following description and as shown in theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a silo with the silo unloader positionedtherein.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a silo and a modified form of the silounloader.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 10-10 ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 11-11 ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of portions of the structure shown in FIG.11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a portion of the central sectionof the silo unloader.

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the lin14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a different portion of the centralportion of the silo unloader.

FIG. 16 is still a further perspective view showing a different portionof the central portion of the silo unloader.

Referring now to the drawings, the silo unloader is normally disposed ina conventional silo having an upright cylindrical wall 10 with a seriesof vertically aligned side openings 11 conventionally closed by doors,not shown, which may be removed for purposes of discharging silage fromthe silo. The silo unloader is supported in the silo in pendulum fashionby a cable 12 depending from a supporting structure on the top of thesilo. As is conventional, the cable may be retracted or extended by awinch, not shown, for purposes of raising and lowering the silounloader.

The silo unloader is composed of a centrally located frame structure 15including an inverted cup-shaped impeller chamber or casing 16 having avertically disposed cylindrical casing wall 17 with a lower circularedge 18 having the same diameter as the chamber walls 17. The casing 16is closed at its upper surface by a horizontally disposed panel wall 19.The casing 16 [has therein and on one side thereof a materialdischarged] has therein and on one side thereof a material dischargeopening at 20.

The main framework 15 carries thereon a vertically disposed driveshaft25 by means of upper and lower journals 26, 27 positioned above thecasing 16, the lower journal 27 being disposed directly on the surfaceof the top panel 19. The shaft 25 extends through the top wall 19 andhas a lower end 28 disposed beneath the chamber 16 and extending into agear casing 29. Fixed to the shaft internally of the casing 16 and bymeans of a set screw 30, are impeller blades 31. The impeller blades 31extend laterally relative to the shaft 25 and have upper edges lyingclosely adjacent the top wall 19 and outer edges lying closely adjacentthe cylindrical wall 17. The lower edges of the impeller blades 31 aresubstantially coplanar with the lower edge 18 of the cylindrical wall17. Consequently the impeller blades 31 move within the chamber 16 so asto clear the chamber of material.

The main frame 15 also has a motor supporting structure 35 supporting anelectric motor 36 having a vertical shaft 37. The shaft 37 is drivinglyconnected to the vertical shaft 25 by means of a speed-reducing chaindrive indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 38.

A sweep mechanism, including a first or outer auger 40 and a second orinner auger 41, is disposed on the surface of the silage. The auger 40has an auger driveshaft 42 articulately connected by a universal typejoint 43 to the central portion of the silo unloader. In viewing FIG. 1,it becomes apparent that the auger flight 40 is disposed closelyproximate the wall 10 and operates to feed material centrally. The outerend of the shaft 42 rigidly carries a cutter 44 with a convex face plate45 freely rotatable on the shaft 42. The cutter 44 cleans the silagefrom the wall 10 and is particularly adapted to cut frozen silage fromthe wall 10. In operation, the auger 40 sweeps about the surface of thesilage and cuts an annular trough adjacent the wall 10.

The auger 41 is supported by an auger driveshaft 46 having an inner enddrivingly connected to the lower end 28 of the drive shaft 25 by meansof bevel gears 47, 48. The bevel gears 47, 48 are disposed in anextension of the gear transmission housing 29. The articulate oruniversal joint 43 is driven by a short stub shaft 50 extending into thegear housing 29. The shaft 50 is drivingly connected to the lower end 28of the main shaft 25 by means of a bevel gear 51 and a countershaft 52carrying a pinion 53 of a reversing gear drive. The pinion 53 mesheswith a gear 54 carried on the shaft 50. Fixed to the main frame 25 is alaterally disposed arm extending outwardly toward the wall 10 anddisposed slightly above the auger 41. The outer end of the arm 60 andthe auger shaft 46 are interconnected by a bracket 6-1 which in turnsupports gage wheel 62. Also carried on the outer end of the arm 60 is abracket structure 63 carrying a laterally disposed guide wheel 64, thelatter moving about a vertical axis.

Reviewing the sweep auger arrangement in its entirety, it becomesapparent that the auger 40 is disposed adjacent the wall 10 and operatesto sweep an annular path adjacent the wall 10 and to move silageinwardly. The gage wheel 62 will normally ride in this annular troughformed by the auger 40 and consequently will cause the [aguer] auger 41to convey material inwardly toward the center of the silo. It thereforebecomes apparent that the depth of cut of the auger 40 determines theoverall [deptht] depth of cut of the silage since the depth of cut ofauger 41 is dependent upon the depth that the gage wheel 62 rides on thesilage. The wheel 64 is normally out of the engagement of the wall 10.However, should abnormal conditions exist in one side of the silage orshould for some reasons the pendulum or cable 12 cause the silo unloaderto swing, the wheel 64 will engage the wall for the purpose of bufferingthe auger 41 and its gage wheel 62 against contact with the wall.Consequently the wheel 64 normally serves the purpose of limitingmovement of the silo unloader in respect to the wall of the silo.

The entire silo unloader is angularly driven about the silo by means ofdrive wheel means including a conventional type drive wheel having aninwardly directed drive wheel shaft 71, the inner end of which isconnected to a propeller shaft 72 by means of a universal or articulatejoint 73. The inner end of the propellcnt shaft 72 is drivinglyassociated with the lower end 28 of the vertical drive shaft 25 by meansof a universal or articulate joint 74 which connects the inner end ofthe shaft 72 to the outer end of the intermediate drive shaft 75 whichextends into the gear housing 29. The shaft 75 has a gear 76 mountedthereon driven by a worm gear 77 carried on an outer extension of theauger drive shaft 46. The worm 77 operates as a speed re ducer andconsequently the drive wheel 70 will normally move at a relatively lowspeed over the surface of the silage. Also, the drive wheel 70 willnormally move in the path of the annular trough formed by the auger 40.

The drive wheel 70, auger 40, and anger 41 are all interconnected bymeans of laterally disposed structure composed of a diagonally andlaterally disposed structural tube 80 pivoted at 81 about a horizontalaxis parallel to the arm 60 and extending therefrom to a point closelyadjacent the inner end of auger 40. An arm structure 82 is welded at 83to the opposite end of the structural tube 80 and carries a bearing 84for supporting the auger shaft 42. The opposite end of the arm structure82 rigidly carries a U-shaped bracket 86. The bracket 86 carries betweenthe legs of the U-shapcd bracket an upright threaded adjusting stud 87.A supporting bracket 90 projects outwardly from the threaded stud 87 andcarries a journal or bearing 91 for the shaft 71. The bearing 91 ispermitted movement up and down by means of a supporting tube 92 fixed tothe bearing 91 and carried on a horizontal pivot stud 93. The bearingsupporting bracket 90 has upper and lower flanges suitable to passrelatively freely on the threaded stud 87. A nut element 94 welded tobracket 90 receives the stud 87 and operates through turning of the stud87 to adjust vertically the entire bearing supporting bracket 90.Viewing the entire structure as a whole, it becomes apparent that themembers 80, 82 and 90 are all rigidly joined together and that raisingand lowering of one of the members will raise and lower the other of themembers.

A laterally disposed tubular member extends diametrically across theupper surface of the silage and has one end connected to the outer endof the propellent shaft 72, the latter being connected to the tubularmember 100 by means of a bracket 101. A suitable journal 102 is providedto permit the shaft 72 to rotate relative to the bracket 101. Theopposite end of the tube member 100 carries surface sensing wheel 105which normally rides on the surface of the silage. Reviewing the entirestructure as a whole, it will become apparent that the wheel 105 incombination with the drive wheel and auger 40 operates as a levellingmechanism. By way of explanation, the wheel 105 will ride over high orlevel spots causing the tubular member 100 to raise or lower. Forexample, should the wheel 105 pass over a high level of silage, thetubular member at the end of the wheel 105 will rise and the oppositeend will be caused to lower. This will cause the shaft 71 also to belowered since in effect a member 101 will cause the universal joint 73to be lowered. As the shaft 71 is lowered it will cause the rigidstructures 80, 82 and 90 to also be lowered and since the latter isconnected to the auger shaft 42, it will cause the auger 40 to dig adeeper bite in the silage. Consequently, should at any time there be atendency for the silage level to form in a cone shape, i.e. either tohave the outer edge of the silage higher than the center or the centersilage at a higher level than the outer edge, the wheel 105 will sensethe uneven condition and will cause the auger 40 to dig deeper orshallower to bring the level of the silage substantially to a horizontalplane.

Also, it should be recognized that as the auger 40 makes a deepertrough, the gage wheel 62 will cause the auger 41 to also cut deeper inthe silage. Consequently the entire level of the silage is gagcd by thesensing wheel 165.

Adjacent to the chamber 16 and opening into the side discharge opening20 is an anger housing 110 extending from the chamber 16 outwardly andthrough one of the openings 11 in the silo wall 10. The auger housing isunique in its shape in that the width of the housing is considerablywider than the auger 111 normally mounted therein. The auger housing 110has its intake opening adjacent the side opening 20 of the chamber 19.Reviewiing FIG. 2, it becomes apparent that the auger 111 lies closelyadjacent one of the walls of the housing 110 but is spaced laterallyfrom the opposite upright wall. The purpose of so spacing the auger 111is to permit silage or other materials to move from the auger betweenthe wall 110 and the outer edge of the auger plate 111. The silagecaught between the wall and silage will be pushed along by the auger 111even though it will not be angered. This effect is created since therewill normally be a frictional type engagement between the material beingaugered by the auger 111 and the material lying alongside the auger 111.Consequently by so disposing the anger in relation to the auger housing110, the overall capacity of the discharge auger is considerablyincreased.

Adjacent the inner end of the auger 41 is a flipper or paddle 114normally disposed beneath the under side of the impeller chamber 16. Anauger section 115 is also mounted on the shaft 46 and is of a reversedpitch than the auger 41. Consequently the material being moved inwardlyby the auger 41 contacts the flipper or paddle 114 and is drivenupwardly. Material is prevented from moving further inward of the paddle114 by the auger flight section 115. The outer edge of the flipperpaddle 114 is closely adjacent the lower edge of the chamber 118 when itis in its extreme upper position. Consequently the material being thrownor lifted upwardly will pass directly into the path of the impellerblades 31 to be moved internally of the chamber 119 until passingthrough the opening 20 and into the auger housing 110. Suitableshielding such as 116 is provided adjacent the flipper paddle 114 so asto limit the quantity of material which may move outwardly from beneaththe chamber 16.

The auger 111 is driven by means of a V-belt 117 extending over a pulley118 at the end of an auger drive shaft 119 on which is carried the auger[flight] flighting 111. The belt 117 extends over a drive pulley 120carried on the upper end of the main drive shaft 25. A pair of idlerpulleys 121, 122, accommodating the extension of the belt 117 around theorner of the chamber 116, is fixed to the upper surface of the chamber16. In this form of the invention, therefore, it becomes apparent thatthe entire silo unloader is driven from the single motor 36 and directlyfrom the vertical drive shaft 25. This, therefore, provides a relativelycheap and simple type of drive.

In the modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 7-17, the centralimpeller portion and auger discharge are substantially identical to thatof the previous form, the main distinction being that a separateelectric motor 125 is carried on the top of the auger housing 110 and isdrivingly connected to the auger shaft 119 by means of a chain andsprocket drive 126. Consequently the entire belt drive extending fromthe main shaft to the auger drive shaft 119 of the previous form of theinvention is eliminated. Since the main details of the central impellerse tion and its respective drive mechanism is identical similarreference numerals are used and further description is not deemednecessary and will not be repeated.

The supporting structure interconnecting the drive wheel with the sweepmechanism is composed of a triangularly shaped laterally disposed framestructure consisting of three rigidly interconnected tubes or pipesections 130, 131, and 132. The tubular member 130 ex tends outwardlyfrom the central portion of the silo to a point adjacent an outer drivewheel 138 and is relatively small so as to permit a degree of flexing inthe tube 130. The member 130 is rigidly connected to the tubular member132 by means of an angle iron steel element 133 which underlies adjacentends of the tubular members 130, 132 and is welded as at 134 to theunder side of tubular member 132. The tubular member is rigidly held toone flange of the angle iron steel strap 133 by means of a bolt 135extending through a rigid vertical bracket 136 on the end of the tubularmember 130. There is a series of vertically spaced openings 137 in thebracket 136 so that the member 130 may be adjusted vertically relativeto the other portions of the frame. The extreme outer end of the tubularmember 132 has fixed thereto a U-shaped bracket structure 14! carryingan upright threaded stud 141 between the legs of the bracket 140.Mounted on the threaded stud 141 is a drive shaft supporting bracket 142extending outwardly and carrying a bearing 143 on which is mounted awheel drive shaft 144. The bracket structure 142 has suitable aperturestherein to receive the threaded stud 141 and the bracket structure 142may be adjusted vertically by adjusting a nut 145 on the stud 141. Thebearing 143 is carried on the bracket structure 142 by means of ahorizontal tube 146 adapted to pivot about the horizontal axis of apivot bolt 147. Consequently the wheel may be adjusted relative to thesupporting structure 130, 131, 132.

The tubular member 131 extends radially outwardly from the center of thesilo and supports at its outer end an auger drive shaft 150, thespecific type of support being a bracket 151 carrying a shaft bearing152. The tubular member 131 is generally to one side and above the augershaft 150. The auger shaft carries an auger flighting 154 extendingsubstantially radially of the silo. It terminates adjacent the bearing152 at its outer end and terminates at its inner end substantiallydirectly beneath the vertical wall 17 of the impeller chamber 16.Directly beneath the impeller chamber 16 is a radially extending flipperblade 155 operating to receive the material from the sweep auger 154 andto flip or impel it upwardly in the path of the impeller blades 31. Theouter end of the auger shaft 150 carries a wall chipper wheel 156disposed closely proximate the wall and outward of the shaft bearing152. The chipper wheel 156 operates to chip the silage, which might befrozen or otherwise clinging to the wall. The tubular member 131 carriesalso an outwardly projecting bracket structure 160 supporting a wallguide wheel 161 engaging the wall above the chipper wheel 156 andoperating to prevent direct contact with the wall by the blades on thechipper wheel 156.

The inner end of the auger drive shaft 150 is drivingly connected to themain drive shaft 25 by bevel gears 163, 164 disposed in a gear housing165. The shaft 150 extends beyond the gear 163 and has mounted on theend thereof a worm gear 166 in mesh with a gear 167 carried on a shortstub shaft 168. The shaft 168 extends outwardly of the gear housing andis connected to the inner end of the drive wheel shaft 144 by means ofan articulate connection 169.

Also drivingly connected to the main shaft 25 and disposed at rightangles to the auger shaft 150 is a second flipper drive shaft 170. Abevel gear 171 is provided on the shaft 170 internally of the gearhousing and is drivingly connected to the bevel gear 164 carried on themain drive shaft 25. The outer end of the shaft terminates beneath theimpeller chamber 161 and carries at its outer end an impeller or secondflipper blade 172. As may more clearly be understood from viewing FIG.13, the first paddle or flipper 155 and the flipper blade 172 willnormally operate so that the adjacent sides thereof move upwardly.Consequently, material moving inwardly by the auger 154 will pass thebetween the blades 155 and 172 which will cooperate to drive thematerial upwardly into the chamber 16 and in contact with the impellerblades 31 in the manner previously described. In viewing the silounloader as shown in FIG. 7, the silo will normally move in aounterclockwise direction with the wheel 138 trailing relative to thesweep auger 154. It is also to be noted that the auger 154 is 7substantially at right angles to the driveshaft 144. It is believed thatthis is the best angular relation, although the levelling systempresently to be described could operate from a practical standpoint atother angles. Preferably the auger 154 should be no more than 90 inadvance or in a trailing direction to the drive wheel 133.

Fixed to the outer end of the tubular framework 131 is a rigid wheelframe 175 extending in a trailing direction relative to the member 131.The frame 175 carries the sensing or leveling wheel 176 which normallyrides over the surface of silage. The sensing wheel 176 will operate inconjunction with the wheel 138 and the auger 154 to maintain the surfacesubstantially level. For example, with the surface of the silage leveland the center of the unloader slightly raised, the unloader could runbut no silage would be moved. By lowering the cable in the center theauger 154 would be lowered a like amount in the center but because ofbeing supported by the gauge wheel and balanced by the traction wheelthrough the tubular steel member 130, the auger would be lowered alesser amount on the outside so the machine would cut and remove silageuntil the outside is at the same level as the inside. At that point themachine is again supported by the cable and the gauge wheel and no moresilage could be removed without further lowering the support cable. Theprevious explained action keeps the top of the silage in a level planebut not necessarily a horizontal plane. The maintaining of the surfaceof the silage in a horizontal plane is achieved by a combination of theabove action plus the flexing of the tubular pipe 130. This flexing iscaused by the fact that the main weight of the machine is supported bythe cable and because of the pendulum action, the main frame as well asthe sweep, tries to maintain the level substantially horizontal, thelatter being permitted by the flexing of the pipe 130. As a furtherexample, if in FIG. 7 the traction wheel were in a low spot and thesilage adjacent the silo door at a relatively high level, the upwardflexing of the pipe 130 caused by the pendulum action of the main weightwould allow the sweep auger to remain nearly level, and being supportedat the outside end by the gauge wheel, the sweep auger would have atendency to take a heavier than normal cut to reduce the height of thehigh spot. Likewise when the traction wheel was on the high spot thepipe 130 would llex downwardly due to the pendulum action of the weightof the machine keeping the sweep nearly level and riding on the gaugewheel so as to take a lesser cut, further reducing the amount ofdifference in the high and low levels in silage. From a theoreticalstandpoint, the closer the wheel 176 is to the drive wheel 138 and theauger 154 is to the wheel 138, the more effective will the levelingmechanism of the present invention operate. From a practical standpoint,it has been found that due to balance of the entire silo unloader it isbetter to have the auger 154 approximately 90 away from the drive wheel138.

The modified form of the invention operates in a some what similarmanner of the previous form other than the leveling mechanism which hasbeen set forth in detail. The auger 154 moves the silage inwardlywhereupon the flippers 155, 172 then move the material upwardly into thepath of the impeller blade 31. The impeller blade drives the materialthrough the opening in the chamber wall 16 and into the auger housing110 which in turn moves the material outward of the silo.

While only one form of the invention has been shown, it should berecognized that other forms and variations will occur to those skilledin the art. Therefore, it should be understood that while the presentdisclosure was shown and described in detail for purposes of completelyand fully explaining the principles of the invention, it was not theintention to so limit or narrow the invention beyond the broad conceptsset forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A material unloader for use in a silo having an up right silo wallwith a series of openings in one side thereof comprising: a main framestructure including an inverted cup-shaped impeller chamber having anupright wall with a lower terminal edge and a side discharge opening inthe wall; means supporting the frame structure substantially at thecenter of the silo; a vertical drive shaft extending through andconcentric with the axis of the chamber with a lower end below thechamher; an impeller including at least one laterally extending andvertically disposed impeller blade fixed to the shaft with an outerupright edge closely adjacent the wall and a lower edge substantiallycoplanar with the lower edge of the wall; sweep means disposed radiallyin the silo bc neath the chamber and extending substantially from thecenter to the wall of the silo and including a laterally extending augerdrive shaft, an anger fiighting on the shaft outboard of the chamber andterminating adjacent the wall of the chamber; a flipper fixed to andextending radially from the auger shaft beneath and inboard of thechamber and adapted to flip material upwardly in the path of theimpeller blade; drive means between the lower end of the drive shaft andthe auger drive shaft; an auger discharge housing having one endconnected to the chamber adjacent to and for receiving material throughthe side discharge opening, and extending therefrom through an openingin the silo wall, an auger within the auger housing for dischargingmaterial through the opening; and a drive mechanism for effectingrotation of the sweep means over the surface of the silage.

2. A material unloader for use in a silo having an upright silo wallwith a series of openings in one side thereof comprising: a main framestructure including an inverted cup-shaped impeller chamber having asubstantially upright wall with a lower terminal edge and a sidedischarge opening in the wall; means supporting the frame structureadjacent the center of the silo; a vertical drive shaft extendingthrough and concentric with the axis of the chamber with a lower endbelow the chamber; an impeller including at least one laterallyextending and vertically disposed impeller blade fixed to the shaft withan outer upright edge closely adjacent the wall and a lower edgesubstantially coplanar with the lower edge of the wall; sweep meansdisposed radially in the silo beneath the chamber and extendingsubstantially from the center to the wall of the silo and including alaterally extending auger drive shaft, an auger fiighting on the shaftoutboard of the chamber and terminating adjacent the wall of thechamber; a flipper fixed to and extending radially from the auger shaftbeneath and inboard of the chamber and adapted to flip material upwardlyin the path of the impeller blade; drive means between the lower end ofthe drive shaft and the auger drive shaft; a discharge conveyor housinghaving one end connected to the chamber adjacent to and for receivingmaterial through the side discharge opening, and extending therefromthrough an opening in the silo wall, a conveyor within the housing fordischarging material through the opening; and a drive mechanism foreffecting rotation of the sweep means over the surface of the silage.

3. A material unloader for use in a silo having an upright silo wallwith a series of openings in a side thereof comprising: a main framestructure including an inverted cup-shaped impeller chamber having anupright wall with a lower terminal edge and a side discharge opening inthe chamber; means supporting the frame structure adjacent the center ofthe silo; a vertical drive shaft substantially at the center of thechamber with a lower end below the chamber; an impeller including atleast one laterally extending and vertically disposed impeller bladefixed to the shaft with an outer edge closely adjacent the chamber walland a lower edge substantially on the level of the lower edge thereof;sweep means disposed radially in the silo beneath the chamber andextending substantially from the center to the wall of the silo andincluding a laterally extending auger drive shaft, an auger flighting onthe shaft outboard of the chamber and terminating adjacent the wall ofthe chamber; drive means between the lower end of the vertical driveshaft and the auger drive shaft for effecting rotation of the latter; aflipper blade fixed to and extending radially from the auger shaftbeneath and inboard of the chamber and adapted to flip material upwardlyin the path of the impeller blade, the flipper blade having a path ofrotation the upper portion of which is closely proximate the lower edgeof the impeller blade; a flight type discharge conveyor having one endconnected to the chamber adjacent to and for receiving material throughthe side discharge, and extending therefrom through an opening in thesilo wall; and a drive mechanism for effecting rotation of the sweepmeans over the surface of the silage.

4. A material unloader for use in a silo having an upright silo wallwith a series of openings in a side thereof comprising: a main framestructure including an inverted cup-shaped impeller chamber having anupright Wall with a lower terminal edge and a discharge opening at theside of the chamber; means supporting the frame structure substantiallyat the center of the silo; a vertical drive shaft centrally located inthe chamber with a lower end below the chamber; an impeller including atleast one laterally extending and vertically disposed impeller bladefixed to the shaft with an outer edge closely adjacent the chamber walland a lower edge substantially at a level with the lower edge thereof;sweep means disposed radially in the silo beneath the chamber andextending substantially from the center to the Wall of the silo andincluding a laterally extending auger drive shaft, an auger flighting onthe shaft outboard of the chamber and terminating adjacent the wall ofthe chamber; drive means be tween the vertical drive shaft and the augerdrive shaft for effecting rotation of the latter; a flipper blade fixedto and extending radially from the auger shaft beneath and inboard ofthe chamber and adapted to flip material upwardly in the path of theimpeller blade, the flipper blade having a path of rotation the upperportion of which is closely proximate the lower edge of the impellerblade; a guide plate on the impeller chamber depending therefrom andadjacent to the flipper for guiding materials into the path of theimpeller and retaining material within the confines of the chamber; adischarge conveyor including a housing having one end connected to thechamber adjacent to and for receiving material through the sidedischarge and extending therefrom through an opening in the silo wall,and a movable flight type conveyor element contained in the housing formoving material through the opening; and a drive mechanism for effectingrotation of the sweep means over the surface of the silage.

5. A material unloader for use in a silo having an upright cylindricalsilo wall with a series of openings in one side thereof comprising: amain frame structure including an inverted cup-shaped impeller chamberwith upright peripheral wall having a lower terminal edge substantiallyequal in radius to the upright wall of the chamber and a side dischargeopening in the wall; means supporting the frame structure substantiallyat the center of the silo; a vertical drive shaft concentric with theaxis of the chamber with an upper end above and a lower end below thechamber; an impeller including at least one laterally extending andvertically disposed impeller blade fixed to the shaft with an outer edgeclosely adjacent the chamber wall and a lower edge substantially at alevel with the lower edge thereof; sweep means disposed radially in thesilo beneath the chamber and extending substantially from the center tothe Wall of the silo and including a laterally extending auger driveshaft drivingly connected at its inner end to the lower end of the driveshaft, an auger flighting on the auger shaft outboard of the chamber andterminating adjacent the wall of the chamber, a flipper fixed to andextending radially from the auger shaft beneath and inboard of thechamber and adapted to flip material upwardly in the path of theimpeller blade; an auger discharge housing having one end adjacent thechamber adjacent to and for receiving material through the sidedischarge and extending therefrom through an opening in the silo wall; ahorizontal pivotal connection between the auger housing and the chamber;an auger within the auger housing for discharging material through theopening; and a drive mechanism for effecting rotation of the sweep meansover the surface of the silage.

6. A material unloader for use in a silo having an upright cylindricalsilo wall with a series of openings in the side thereof comprising: amain frame structure including an inverted cup-shaped impeller chamberwith an upright peripheral wall having a lower terminal edge and a sidedischarge opening in the wall; means supporting the frame structuresubstantially at the center of the silo; a vertical drive shaftsubstantially at the center of the chamber with an upper end above and alower end below the chamber; an impeller including at least onelaterally extending and vertically disposed impeller blade fixed to theshaft with an outer upright edge closely adjacent the chamber wall and alower edge substantially coplanar with the lower edge thereof; sweepmeans disposed radially in the silo beneath the chamber and extendingsubstantially from the center to the wall of the silo and including alaterally extending auger drive shaft drivingly connected at its innerend to the lower end of the drive shaft, an auger flighting on the augershaft terminating adjacent the wall of the chamber and effective to movematerial to the center of the silo; a flipper blade drivingly connectedto the lower end of the drive shaft beneath the impeller and adapted toflip material upwardly in the path of the impeller blade; an augerdischarge housing having one end adjacent the chamber adjacent to andfor receiving material through the side discharge and extendingtherefrom through an opening in the silo wall; a horizontal pivotalconnection between the auger housing and the casing; an auger within theauger housing for discharging material through the opening and a drivemechanism for effecting rotation of the sweep means over the surface ofthe silage.

7. A material unloader for use in a silo having an upright cylindricalsilo wall with a series of openings in one side thereof comprising: amain frame structure including an inverted cup-shaped impeller chamberwith an upright annular wall having a lower terminal edge and a sidedischarge opening in the wall; means supporting the frame structureadjacent the center of the silo; a vertical drive shaft concentric withthe axis of the chamber with an upper end above and a lower end belowthe chamber; an impeller including at least one laterally extending andvertically disposed impeller blade fixed to the shaft with an outerupright edge closely adjacent the chamber wall and a lower edgesubstantially coplanar with the lower edge thereof; sweep means disposedradially in the silo beneath the chamber and extending substantiallyfrom the center to the wall of the silo and including a laterallyextending auger drive shaft drivingly connected at its inner end to thelower end of the drive shaft, an auger flighting on the auger shaftterminating adjacent the wall of the chamber and effective to movematerial to the center of the silo; a first flipper blade fixed to andextending radially from the auger shaft beneath and inboard of thechamber and adapted to flip material upwardly in the path of theimpeller blade; a flipper blade shaft extending at right angles to theauger shaft and drivingly connected to the lower end of the drive shaft;a second flipper blade mounted on the flipper shaft effective to movematerial upwardly into the chamber; an auger discharge housing havingone end adjacent the chamber adjacent to and for receiving materialthrough the side discharge and extending therefrom through an opening inthe silo wall; a horizontal pivotal connection between the auger housingand the casing; an anger within the auger housing for dischargingmaterial through the opening; and a drive machanism. for effectingrotation of the sweep means over the surface of the silage.

8. A silo unloader for use in a silo having an upright silo wall with aside opening therein comprising: a main frame structure including adownwardly opening impeller chamber substantially at the center of thesilo with a side discharge opening therein; a vertically disposed driveshaft extending through the chamber with a lower end beneath thechamber; radially extending impeller blade means supported on the shaftwithin the chamber; a sweep auger drivingly connected to the lower endof the vertical shaft and extending from an inner end adjacent thechamber to an outer end adjacent the silo wall, the auger beingsupported on the frame structure to move over the silage surface; aflipper blade drivingly connected to the vertical shaft andsubstantially horizontally aligned with the inner end of the sweep augerand effective to move material received from the auger upwardly andwithin the path of the impeller blade means; a discharge conveyorincluding a housing having an intake end supported on the framestructure for receiving material through the side discharge opening ofthe chamber and extending therefrom to an outer end retained in the sideopening of the silo, and an auger within the auger housing for movingmaterial from the chamber; and drive means effecting a slow rate ofrotation of the drive shaft whereby the impeller blade means will move asmall volume of air, and material moved by the impeller blade means willbe predominantly by material coming into contact with the blade meansand negligibly by the movement of air.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 in which the auger housing isconsiderably wider than the auger, the auger is disposed proximate thebottom and one side of the housing thereby leaving a spacing between theauger and the other side of the housing.

10. A silo unloader for use in a silo having an upright silo wall with aside opening therein comprising: a main frame structure including adownwardly opening impeller chamber substantially at the center of thesilo with a side discharge opening therein; a vertically disposed driveshaft extending through the chamber with a lower end beneath thechamber; radially extending impeller blade means supported on the shaftwithin the chamber; a sweep conveyor drivingly connected to the lowerend of the vertical shaft and extending from an inner end adjacent thechamber to an outer end adjacent the silo wall, the

with the inner end of the conveyor and effective to move r over thesilage surface; a flipper blade drivingly connected to the verticalshaft and substantially horizontally aligned with the inner end of theconveyor and effective to move material received from the conveyorupwardly and within the path of the impeller blade means; a dischargeconveyor including a housing having an intake end supported on the framestructure for receiving material through the side discharge opening ofthe chamber and extending therefrom to an outer end retained in the sideopening of the silo, and a flight type conveyance device within thehousing for moving material from the chamber; and drive means effectinga slow rate of rotation of the drive shaft whereby the impeller blademeans will move a small volume of air, and material moved by theimpeller blade means will be predominantly by material coming intocontact with the blade means and negligibly by the movement of air.

11. A solo unloader for use in a silo having an upright silo wall with aside opening therein comprising: a main frame structure including adownwardly opening impeller chamber substantially at the center of thesilo with a side discharge opening therein; a vertically disposed driveshaft extending through the chamber with a lower end beneath thechamber; a sweep conveyor drivingly connected to the lower end of thevertical shaft and extending from an inner end adjacent the chamber toan outer end adjacent the silo wall, the conveyor being supported on theframe structure to move over the silage surface; impeller blade meansdisposed within the chamber drivingly connected to the vertical shaftand effective to move material received from the conveyor upwardly andoutwardly the side discharge opening in the chamber; a dischargeconveyor including a housing having an intake end supported on the framestructure for receiving material through the side discharge opening ofthe chamber and extending therefrom to an outer end retained in the sideopening of the silo, and a flight type conveyance device within thehousing for moving material from the chamber; and drive means effectinga slow rate of rotation of the drive shaft whereby the impeller blademeans will move a small volume of air, and material moved by theimpeller blade means will be predominantly by material coming intocontact with the blade means and negligibly by the movement of air.

12. A silo unloader for use in a silo having an upright silo wall with aside opening therein comprising: a main frame structure including adownwardly opening impeller chamber substantially at the center of thesilo with a side discharge opening therein; a vertically disposed driveshaft extending through the chamber with a lower end beneath thechamber; a sweep auger drivingly connected to the lower end of thevertical shaft extending from an inner end adjacent the chamber to anouter end adjacent the silo wall, the auger being supported on the framestructure to move over the silage surface; impeller blade means withinthe chamber drivingly connected to the vertical shaft effective to movematerial received from the auger upwardly and outwardly the sidedischarge opening in the chamber means; a discharge conveyor including ahousing having an intake end supported on the frame structure forreceiving material through the side discharge opening of the chamber andextending therefrom to an outer end retained in the side opening of thesilo, and an auger within the auger housing for moving material from thechamber, the anger including an auger shaft projecting outwardly an endof the auger housing; a motor and drive means effecting a slow rate ofrotation of the drive shaft whereby the impeller blade means will move asmall volume of air and material moved by the impeller blade means willbe predominantly by material coming into contact with the blade meansand negligibly through the movement of air; and a second motor supportedon the auger housing and drivingly connected to the projecting end ofthe auger shaft.

13. A silo unloaa'cr for use in a silo having an upright silo wall witha side opening therein comprising: a main frame structure including adownwardly opening impeller chamber subsmntially at the center of thesilo with a side discharge opening therein; a vertically disposed driveshaft extending through the chamber with a lower end beneath thechamber; upright impeller blade means fixed to and extending radiallyoutwardly of the shaft to outer ends closely adjacent the walls of thechamber; a sweep auger drivingly connected to the lower end of thevertical shaft and extending from an inner end adjacent the chamber toan outer and adjacent the silo wall, the auger being supported on theframe structure to move over the silage surface; a flipper bladedrivingly connected to the vertical shaft and substantially horizontallyaligned with the inner end of the sweep auger and effective to movematerial received from the auger upwardly and within the path of theimpeller blade means; a discharge means including a housing having anintake and supported on the frame structure for receiving materialthrough the side discharge opening 0] the chamber and extendingtherefrom to an outer end terminating adjacent the side opening of thesilo, and a device in the housing for moving the material bclween theintake and outer ends; and drive means effecting a slow rate of rotationof the drive shaft whereby the impeller blade means will move a smallvolume of air, and material moved by the impeller blade means will bepredominantly by material coming into contact with the blade means andnegligibly by movement of air created by the blades.

14. A silo unloader for use in a silo having an upright silo wall with aside opening therein comprising." a main frame structure including adownwardly opening impeller chamber substantially at the center of thesilo with a side discharge opening therein; a vertically disposed driveshaft extending through the chamber with a lower end beneath thechamber; upright impeller blade means fixed to and extending radiallyoutwardly of the shaft to outer ends closely adjacent the walls of thechamber; a sweep auger having an auger shaft drivingly connected to thelower end of the vertical shaft and extending from an inner end adjacentthe chamber to an outer end adjacent the silo wall, the auger beingsupported on the frame structure to move over the silage surface; aflipper blade drivingly supported on the auger shaft beneath the chamherand efiective to move material received from the auger upwardly andwithin the path of the impeller blade means; a discharge means includinga housing having an inlet and supported on the frame structure forreceiving material through the side discharge opening of the chamber andextending therefrom to an outer end terminating adjacent the sideopening of the silo, and a power operated device in the housing formoving material between the inlet and outer end; and drive meanseffecting rotation of the drive shaft and operating the discharge means.

15. A silo unloader for use in unloading silage from a silo comprisingan elongated horizontally oriented auger engageable with the uppersurface of the silage for cutting and conveying silage materiallongitudinally thereof; a support structure supporting the auger forhorizontal travel upon the surface of the silage material within thesilo with an inner end of the auger positioned adjacent the center ofthe silo and an outer end disposed adjacent the silo wall; a downwardlyopening impeller chamber substantially at the center of the silo with aside discharge opening therein; means for driving the auger about theinner end in a circular horizontal path; discharge means including aninlet disposed in communicating relation with the discharge opening ofthe chamber and in close proximity to the inner end of the auger and adischarge adjacent an opening in the silo wall, and a power operateddevice for moving material between the inlet and discharge; impellermeans interposed between the respective inner end and inlet including apair of bladed rotating impellers arranged in close cooperativerelation, one of the bladed impellers being positioned beneath thechamber and revolvable about a horizontal axis substantially on thelevel of the auger and the other bladed impeller being positioned abovesaid one impeller and within the chamber and being revolvable about avertical axis, the bladed impellers cooperating with each other toreceive and impel the material from the inner end of the auger to theinlet of the discharge means from whence the silage is moved outwardlyof the silo.

16. A silo unloader for use in unloading silage from a silo comprisingan elongated horizontally oriented auger engageable with the uppersurface of the silage for cutting and conveying silage materiallongitudinally thereof; a support structure supporting the auger forhorizontal travel upon the surface of the silage material within thesilo with an inner end of the auger positioned adjacent the center ofthe silo and an outer end disposed adjajacent the silo wall; means fordriving the auger about the inner end in a circular horizontal path;discharge means including an inlet disposed in close proximity to theinner end of the auger and a discharge adjacent an opening in the silowall, and a power operated device for moving material between the inletand discharge; impeller means interposed between the respective innerend and inlet including a pair of bladed rotating impellers arranged inclose Cooperative relation, one of the bladed impellers beingrevolvab'le about a horizontal axis aligned with the auger and the otherbladed impeller being positioned above said one impeller and beingrevolvable about a vertical axis, the bladed impellers cooperating witheach other to receive and impel the material from the inner end of theauger to the inlet of the discharge means from whence the silage ismoved outwardly of the silo.

17. A silo unloader for use in unloading silage from a silo comprising asupport structure; a downwardly opening chamber with a side dischargeopening therein carried on the structure at the center of the silo;means supporting an auger on the structure for horizontal travel uponthe surface of the silage material within the silo, the auger having aninner end positioned adjacent the center of the silo and beneath thechamber and an outer end disposed adjacent the silo wall; means fordriving the auger about the inner end in a circular horizontal path;discharge means including an inlet in communication with the dischargeopening and at a level above the inner end of the auger and a dischargeadjacent an opening in the silo wall, and a power operated device formoving material between the inlet and discharge; impeller meansinterposed between the respective inner end and inlet including a pairof bladed rotating impellers arranged in close cooperative relation, oneof the bladed impellers being on the auger inner end and revolvableabout a horizontal axis aligned with the auger and the other bladedimpeller being positioned above said one impeller and being revolvableabout a vertical axis, the bladed impellers co operating with each otherto receive and impel the materidl from the inner end of the auger firstupwardly into the chamber and then outwardly through the side dischargeopening of the chamber to the inlet of the discharge means from whencethe silage is moved outwardly of the silo.

18. A silo unloader for use in unloading silage from a silo comprising asupport structure; a downwardly opening chamber with a side dischargeopening therein carried on the structure at the center of the silo;means supporting an auger on the structure for horizontal travel uponthe surface of the silage material within the silo, the auger having aninner end positioned adjacent the center of the silo and beneath thechamber and an outer end disposed adjacent the silo wall; means fordriving the auger about the inner end in a circular horizontal path;discharge means including an inlet in communication with the dischargeopening and at a level above the inner end of the auger and a dischargeadjacent an opening in the silo wall, and a power operated device formoving material between the inlet and discharge; impeller meansinterposed between the respective inner end and inlet including a pairof bladed rotating impellers arranged in close cooperative relation, oneof the bladed impellers being revolvable about a horizontal axis and inmaterial receiving relation with the inner end of the auger and theother bladed impeller being positioned above said one impeller and beingrevolvable about a vertical axis, the bladed impellers cooperating witheach other to receive and impel the material from the inner end of theauger first upwardly into the chamber and then outwardly through theside discharge opening of the chamber to the inlet of the dischargemeans from whence the silage is moved outwardly of the silo.

19. The invention defined in claim 18 in which the discharge meansincludes a housing attached to the chamber at the side discharge openingand further includes crop transferring elements in the housing movableby the side opening for receiving and propelling material receivedtherethrough to the discharge of the discharge means.

(References on following page) 15 References Cited by the Examiner2,719,058 The following references, cited by the Examiner, are of recordin the patented file of this patent or the origi- 2988238 nal patent.3017043 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,866,005 7/1932 Beatty. 2,465,1453/1949 Brainerd. 2,678,241 5/1954 Miller.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

R. G. SHERIDAN, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Reissue No, 26,072August 2, 1966 Sylvan H. Sime It is hereby certified that error appearsin the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the saidLetters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the grant, lines 2 and 3, strike out "assignor to Deere 6 Company, ofMoline, Illinois, a corporation of Delaware," line 15, for "Deere 6Company, its successors" read Sylvan H. Sime his heirs in the heading tothe printed specification, lines 3 and 4, strike out "assignor to Deere6 Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Delaware Signed and sealedthis 8th day of August 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M, Fletcher, Jr. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

